Hanger device for electrical outlet boxes



seiat. 1, 1925. 1,55 0

C. E. BOWERS HANGER DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOXES Filed June 2.1923 17 15 2519 5 2 24-1. a= 1 2' k 20 .55- l1 Z 1 36 36 74 1612, 50 3625 21 a 12 iz 15 25 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 1, v 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFice.

CLAUDE E. BOWERS, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

HANGER DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOXES.

. Application filed June 2,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE E. Bownns,

a citizen of, the United States, residing at ings. Y

An important object of this invention is to provide an outlet box hangerthat may be quickly adjusted to suit varying distances between buildingjoists and studs to which it is secured.

A further object is to provide a hanger construction that will notinterfere with the connection of wiring conduits to the outlet boxesmounted thereon.

F urther objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, reference being had to the drawings accompanying the same,in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross section of apair of ceiling joists showing the hangerattached thereto, and the outlet box in section mounted thereon.

Fig. '2 is a plan view of the han'ger se ings, -10 designates thecomplete hanger,

cured in position on the ceiling joists, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the hanger adjusted to apair of joists spaced apart a distance less than the length of thehanger.

Fig. 4 is a cross section through an outlet box of usual form,illustrating the method of securing the same to the outlet box.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the hanger device with the outlet'box in placthereon.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the other end of the hanger device.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of my outlet box hanger with the outlet boxremoved therefrom.

Strap hangers employed for mounting electrical outlet boxes to the wallstuds and ceiling joists of buildings are formed of a single piece ofstrap iron having inturned ends for securing the same in position.Building studding and joists of two inches in thickness are usuallyarranged about sixteen inches on centers,'forming a clear space offourteen inches between the opposing 192a Serial No. 643,025.

faces of the'joists ors'tuds, and :in consequence the hangers are formedfourteen' inches in length. Often the studs or joists vary in thickness,thus increasing the dis tances therebetween, and in such casestheworkmen are required to inserta small block between one inturned-endofthe hanger and one face of the stud or j'oist to securethe hanger 1npOSItIOII. Further, as the hanger is formed of a single'straight pieceof strap iron, the wiring conduits "entering the side apertures ofoutlet boxes along the longitudinal axis of the hangers have tobe bentinorder to escape the inturned attaching ends of the hangers.

By means ofthe improved hanger described herein, the above reciteddifliculties relating to the installation of outlet box hangers arelargely obviated, the attaching brackets 'of th hangers are adjustablysecured thereto, rendering it a comparatively easy matter to install thesame between studs or joists where, the distance between the same vary.Also, by offsetting the at taching ends of the brackets'to one side of'the longitudinal axis ofth e'hanger bar, no

difliculty willbe experiencedin leading the wiring conduits into theside apertures to the boxes that are disposed in line with the hangerbar.

Referring more particularly-to the drawconsisting of a flat'bar 11formed of strap iron. Slidably mounted on the ends of bar erablyconsists of a flat portion 14 designed to engage a face of astud orjoist 15 and is secured'thereto by nails, a portion 16 bent at rightangles to portion 14: engages the side face 17 of the stud or joist 15,from thence it is bent outwardly as at 18, the end terminating in asubstantially U-shaped bearing 19, each leg of the bearing beingprovided with aligned slots 20, the end of the bar 11 passingtherethrough, .Supporting bracket 13 is similar in form to bracket 12and preferably consists of a flat portion 21 which engages one of thefaces of stud 22, being secured thereto by nails or other securingmeans. Extending upwardly'from one end of portion 21, and at rightangles thereto, is an upwardly extending portion 23 which engages theside face of the stud 22, the upper end being offset a distance equal tothe width of portion 21, and provided with a bearing slot 24, throughWhich one end of bar 11 passes. Each end of bar 11 is provided With asmall tit 25 which is formed thereon after the brackets 12 and 13 aremounted thereon, the tits preventing disengagement of the bar from thebrackets.

Slidably mounted on bar 11 is an Outlet box supporting member 27,Whichpreferably consists of a short length of pipe having aligned slots28 in its Wall, one end being exteriorly threaded. The outlet box 29 isof usual octagonal form, the side and bottom Walls 30, 31, respectively,being provided with the usual knock outs 32, and

the bottom Wall 31 is also provided with a centrally disposed opening 33through which the threaded end of member 27 passes When the outlet boxis. secured thereto, a Washer 34 and a nut 35 securely holding theoutlet box in rigid relation thereon. Se cured to the threaded end ofmember 27, and abutting against nut 35 is a hickey 36, the free endthereof being interiorly threaded for the reception of the, threaded end37 of a lighting fixture, not shown.

As the free slotted ends of the bracket members are offset to one sideof and parallel to the plane of attaching portions 14 and 21, Wiringconduits 38 that are disposed in parallel relation to the outlet box supporting bar 11, may be led directly into the outlet box through theopenings in Walls '30'Witl1out bending, this feature of the inventionbeing clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

When the space between studs or joists are of less width than thestandard spacing (sixteen inches on centers), one end of the bar 11 maybe bent at right angles as clearly shown in Fig. 3, minor differences inthe Width of studs or oists occasioned mainly to uneven sizes of thesame, will be provided for by the adjustable brackets Without thenecessity of bending the outlet box supporting bar. After the hanger hasbeen adjusted in position between studs or joists, the ends 19 and 2a ofthe brackets may be bent slightly so as to bind the ends to the bar.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided anoutlet box hanger construction that Will eliminate many difficultiesexperienced by workmen in the installation ofoutlet boxes in buildings,Without materially increasing the cost of hangers, any increase in costbeing compensated by the saving in the labor of installation andmaterials. I lVhat I claim is: r v 1. A device of the class described,compris ing a pair of metal supporting brackets,

one'end of said brackets having attaching brackets having attachingportions, the free ends forming bearings, the bearing endof one of saidbrackets being offset to'the side of and extending parallel to the planeof its attaching portion, and a supporting bar adjustably mounted in thebearing portions of said brackets, V

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 16th day i of May, 1923, V,

CLAUDE E. BOWERS'.

